Swimming-machine.



A. H. JAHNSON. SWIMMING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED Nov.4,191s.

Patented Dec. 15. 1914.

5 n ue nto@ ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEX H. JAHNSO'N, OF HICKSVILLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO ALBERT C. RAVE, OF HICKSVILLE, NEW YORK.

SWIMMING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 15', 191i.

Application filed November 4, 1913. Serial No. 799,181.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEX H. JAHNsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hicksville, Long Island, in the county of Nassau and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SwimmingMachines; and I hereby declare' that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyino drawings, which form part of this specication.

This invention is a novel pleasure swimming apparatus, also capable for use as a life saving device, and its object is to provde a very light portable buoyant raft or float which will support a person in the water, and is provided with manually operable means by which it'can be propelled through the water at considerable speed; and when not in use the device can be folded readily and transported or carried by a person from place to place or may be stored out o f the way.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a practical embodiment of the invention and will describe same in detail so as to enable the invention to be readily understood, although I do not consider the invention restricted to the specific form and construction of parts shown in the drawings, as changes may be made in details thereof within the scope of the invention.

In said drawings :-Figure 1 is a plan View of the apparatus extended and 'in condition for use. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on line 2 2, Fig. 1, the manner of using the device being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3 8, Fig. 1; indicatin the folded position of the floats in dotted lines. Fig. 4 isa detail section on line 4-4, Fig. 1.

The apparatus'comprises a pair of parallel Heats 3 and a central keel-board l, which may be of wood or any other suitable material.

To the opposite ends and upper edge of this keel-board are attached standards l, to the upper ends of which are pivotally connected oppositely extending transversely disposed arms 2, which may be provided with split clamps or rings 2a adapted to embrace the floats 3. Each oat is preferably made of a light hollow metal cylinder and pointed at each end as shown; such oats have suficient buoyancy to support themselves and the other portions of the apparatus in the water, and also to support the weight of a person sitting or standing on the keel-board between the floats; or upon a seat-board placed across the floats. The floats are held 1n longitudinal alinement and parallel with each other and with the keel-board, and they may be adjusted to dilferent positions and held in such position by means of links 2" pivotally connected to the arms 2 and to slides 1b on standards 1El as shown; and these shdes 1b can be secured in any position on the standards by means of wing or thumb nuts 1c as shown; or in any other suitable manner. lVhen the apparatus is to be transported the floats are moved down close to the keel-board, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3; but when the apparatus is to be used they are raised and separated as indicated in full lines in the drawings.

Upon the keelboard 1 is mounted an adjustable seat 1t on which a person may sit astride; and this scat may be pivotally mounted at i upon a yoke member 4b that can be adjustably secured to the keel-board by any suitable means; as for instance a bolt 4* adapted to engage in one of a series of openings le in the keel,board, so that said seat can be adjusted to suit the user of the apparatus.

The rear portion of the keel-board is preferably. deepened as shown at 1d, and onto opposite sides of this portion of the keelboard are secured reciprocating propelling devices, comprising parallel guide rods 5 u on which are slidably mounted frames 5' o any suitable construction, as shown such frames have eyes 5b engaging rods 5.

Each frame 5a is provided with an outwardly projecting foot engaging push portion 5 which may have a loop or strap 5 attached thereto to support the foot of the user, as indicated in Fig. 2. To each frame 5 is pivotally attached ablade or paddle 6, which is preferably made of aluminum and is loosely hinged to the frame, as shown, so that when the frame 5 is moved forward the blade 6 will b v the action of the water, swing back parallel with the keel-board; but if the frame is moved backward thc action of the water will cause the blade to assume a position perpendicular to the keel-board, as indicated at the upper side of Fig. l, and

' drawn forward.

plished by means of a rope or cord 6 attached to the frames at its opposite ends and passing through an opening lh in the may be provided with a sail S keel-board, in which opening is preferably placed a pulley 6e to prevent friction or binding of the cord, as it moves back and forth through said opening.

- Hinged to the keel-board above the paddles are a pair of horizontally disposed rudder blades 7 which may be connected by a cord Ib to levers Tc pivoted at 7 a to the front of the' keel-board within reach of the operator lying or sitting upon the seat-4.'

To thev front end of the keel-board or frame are secured hand rests 1f by which the operator can hold on to the apparatus.

Preferably each of the floats is provided withlight longitudinal wooden bars 8, one at top and one at the side, as shown, which serve as buers or fenders to prevent damaging the floats by contact or collision with other bodies in the water.

If desired a small mast 8 can be rigged upon the apparatus, through an eye 8f attached to the front standard, the bottom of the mast being stepped in a socket 8b in the upper side of the keel-board. Said mast and the sail control ropes s can be fastened to a ring 8 on the rear standard, as indicated in Fig. 2. When using the sail the operator may sit upon a light board or seat 9 placed across and between the pontoons as indicated in the drawings. The machine is intended to be used for a pleasure craft or amusement device, by bathers; and in using it the operator places the machine in the water andY takes his position on the seat 4; the operator will have a standing or sittin position in the water, being practically siimerged; vand when he desires to propel the machine he operates the blades with his feet by placing his feet against the foot portions 5 and alternately pushing the frames backward;

the blades connected to said frame opening out perpendicular to the keel when the frames are pushed backward, as 'shown-in,

the upper side of Fig. l, and the full force of the ush is exerted to propel the machine througii the water; and while one blade is pushing the apparatus the opposed paddle blade is closedas .indicated at the lower side of Fig. 1 and is drawn forward. The blades or paddles automatically open and close as they are moved backward or forward by-the rider or swimmer, and he can y front of the machine.

tion of t a keel-board, floats adjustably propel himself through the water rapidly and enjoy the sensation of swimming with safety.

Vhat I claim is:

1. In a swimming machine the combination of a keel-board, floats connected therewith, and propelling devices connected to said keel-board; with horizontal rudders attached to said keel-board above the propelling devices. v

2. In a swimming `machine the combination of a keel-board, floats connected there-- with, and reciprocatory blades slidably connected to said keel-board and adapted to be operated manually; with horizontal rudders 30 attached to said keel-board, and meansfor operating said rudders from the front of the machine. l Y

3. In a swimmin machine the combination of a keel-boar floats connected therewith, and rcciprocatory blades slidably connected to said keel-board adapted to be operated ,by the rider; with horizontal rudders attached to said keel-board above the propelling devices, and means for operating said rudders from the front of the machine.

4. A swimmin machine comprising a centrdl keel-boar iioats on oppositesides of the keel-board, reciprocatory frames slidably attached to opposite sides of the keelboardand hinged blades attached to said frames; with horizontal rudders attached to said keel-board, and means for operating said rudders.

5. A swimming machine comprising a 10( central -keel-board, floats on opposite sides of and parallel with the keel-board connected therewith, a seat on said keel-board,

and propelling means in rear of said seat adapted to be operated by a person lying 10` astride the keel-board; with horizontal rudders attached to said keel board above the propelling devices, and means for operating said rudders from the front of the machine. 11

6. In a swimming machine the combination ofl a keel-board, floats attached to said keel-board to suspend the same in the'water, reciprocatory frames slidably attached to opposite sides of the keel-board, and propel- 11 ling devices attached to 'said frames, said frames being adapted to be reciprocated by the feet of a person upon the'seat; 'withH horizontal rudders attached to said keelboard above the propelling devices, and 1 means for operating said" rudders from the/jf' 7. In a swimming machine the combinaattached to opposite sides of said keel-board 1 adapted to suspend the same in the water below the floats, hand rests at the front of the keel-board, reciprocatory frames slidably attached to o posite sides of the keelboard, and prope mg devices attached toil said frames, said frames being adapted to be reciprocated by the feet of a person astrde the keel board. j

8. ln a swimming machine the combnntion of a keel-board, a pair of floats on op"- poste sides of said keel-board adj'ustably attached thereto and adapted to`suspend to same in the Water below the surface, 4a' seat mounted on said keel-board,recprocatory frames slidably-attached to opposite sides of said keel-board rear of the seat, unid blades hingedly attached to said framesf In testimonythat I claim theforgoin` as my own, I ax my signature in 'presence of' two Witnesses#A ALEX Hf JAHNSON. Witnesses:

` ARTHUR E. DOWELL, l

LmLIAN E. WITHAM.

Copiez of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' WashingtomLC. 

